Sights and sounds: Browns hiring of Chudzinski

"Everyone wanted to know how long it would take. It took 11 days. We came back with the best person to lead the Cleveland Browns." Browns owner Jimmy Haslam III on hiring Rob Chudzinski

"We'll share that responsibility. We'll all work together." Chudzinski on whether he'll have the final say on the roster

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"We'll have an attacking style. It will be innovative. We'll push the envelope. I like a vertical, down-field passing game. My philosophy is you have to put the players in the best situations." Chudzinski on his offensive style

"If Rob was from Plano, Texas, we still would have hired him." Haslam on Chudzinski being from Toledo

"This process is fluid. It was more public than I'd like. We did not have one person in mind as a favorite, despite what you've read. I didn't know if it would take a week or a month. It was very tiring." Haslam on hiring a coach

Next order of business

The front office's next task will be to hire a general manager/player personnel director.

"We could have somebody in a few days," Haslam said. "It may be a month. It's important we get the right person."

When asked about Mike Lombardo joining the team, CEO Joe Banner was non-committal.

Defensive philosophy

Chudzinski will need a strong defensive coordinator since his background is on offense. He said he's talking to the coaches left behind in Cleveland. Ex-defensive coordinator Dick Jauron is not expected to be retained.

"I like an attacking style (on defense)," Chudzinski said. "We want to create turnovers. We want to get after the quarterback, whether that's a 4-3 or 3-4."

What scheme they run will depend on whom the Browns hire as defensive coordinator.

Time line

Haslam said he spoke to nine or 10 candidates for the head-coaching job. Chudzinski said he didn't interview for any other job.

-- He was contacted by the Browns on Tuesday.

-- He interviewed at Haslam's house in Bratenahl on Wednesday.

-- On Thursday afternoon, Haslam and Banner flew to Charlotte, N.C., and had dinner with Chudzinski. They offered him the job at dinner.

-- Chudzinski immediately started calling coaches around the league trying to assemble his staff. One of those calls reportedly went to ex-San Diego Chargers coach Norv Turner. He could be Chudzinski's offensive coordinator.

"I don't know if stunned is the word," Chudzinski said. "The word is excited. It's a dream come true for this kid from Toledo, Ohio. I've been on Cloud 9. I sleep about an hour last night."

Haslam said there was no clear-cut favorite for the job, despite what was written about Oregon's Chip Kelly.